Cap cleaning and stretching block



Feb. 15; 1944. I GRE|FENHA|N 2,342,047

CAP CLEANING AND STRETGHING BLOCK Filed Aug. 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATT ENE) Feb. 15, 194 3. F. GREIFENHA'IN ,3

I (IA i CLEANING AND STRETCHING BLOCK 'na Aug. 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 INVENTOR.

- Fi z fawn/m le Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CAP CLEANING AND STRETCHING BLOCK Fritz Greifenliain, New York, N. Y.

Application August 1, 1942, Serial No. 453,161 Claims. (01. 223-24) This invention relates to new and useful im-.

provements in a cap cleaning and stretching block.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a cap cleaning and stretching block formed of separate sections and arrangedv to be engaged into a cap in a manner to shape and stretch the same during washing and drying to prevent the cap from shrinking.

Another object of the invention proposes the formation of the sections in such a manner that when they are put in in a predescribed manner they will have an outer contour coinciding with the shape of the cap within'which they are to be used.

It is another object of the invention to so construct the sections that when the last section is engaged into the cap it will simultaneously force each of the other sections into their completely extended shaping position and at the same time lock the other sections in position within the cap until such time as the last inserted section is removed from the cap.

A still further object of the invention proposes a means for limiting interengagement of the block sections in a manner to prevent their expansion beyond a point in which the cap is properly expanded and shaped.

A modification of this invention proposes the provision of a means for holding the last block section to be inserted into the cap securely in position in a manner to prevent its accidental .disengagement from the cap.

Still another object of this invention proposes the construction of a cap cleaning and stretching block which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at .a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of .the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cap having a cleaning and stretching block constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3'3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. is aperspective view of the forward central block'section per .se.

Fig. 5 is aside elevational'viewof Fig. 4.

tion of the line l1l1 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the locking real central block section per se.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 7.

Fig. .10 is a vertical sectional View on the line l0-lll of Fig.7.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one .of the side block sections per se.

Fig. 12 is an end elevational view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line I 4-14 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 isv a bottom plan view of a cap having a cleaning and stretching block constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. '16 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line iii-l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of the locking rear central block section looking in the direc- Fig. 18 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken on the line i 8-.l8 of Fig. 17. The cap cleaning andstretching block, ac cording to this invention, is to be used in combination with a cap l0 and includes a pairof side block sections l l, a forward central .b'lock section [2 and a locking rear central block section I3 which are designed'to be engaged into the cap as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. These block sections may be constructed of hard non-porous woods; metal, various plastics or other materials capable of shedding water. The pair of side block sections H are alike in construction, and" each has its outer face I4 shaped to contour of the sides of the cap 10, see Fig. 3. The inner faces 15 of the side block sections slope slightly inwards from the top to :th bottom. I

The forward central block section I2 is engaged in position between the front ends of the side block sections I I and has its front face fashioned to the contour of the front of the cap l0, see Fig. 2. This central block section l2 has'its side walls ll sloping inwards from the top to the bottom'to engage the inner faces of the front ends of the side block sections H to force the front ends of the side block H apart intofacial contact with the inside of the cap 10. The block side block sections H and has its rear face I9 fashioned to the contour of the rear of the cap I0. The sides 20 of the rear central block section I3 slope inwards from the top to the bottom to engage the inner faces of the rear ends of the side block sections II to force the rear ends of the side block section apart into facial contact with the inside of the cap Ill. The rear block section I3 has its front face 2| sloping rearwards from the top to the bottom to engage. the sloping rear face'of the'front'block section I2 to spread the central block sections to urge their outer faces I6 and I9 into facial contact with the front and rear areas of the cap I0.

The inner face I of each of the side block sections II is formed with a central recess 22 which has its ends sloping outwards from the top to the bottom. The side walls I! of the front central block section I2 are formed with outwardly extending projections 23 for engaging within the front portions of the recesses 22. The front edges of the projections 23 are sloped outwards from the top to the bottom to agree with the contour of the front ends of the recesses 22. Likewise, the side walls of the locking rear central block section I3 are formed with outwardly extending projections 24 for engaging within the rear portion of the recesses 22. The rear edges of the projections 24 are sloped outwards from the top to the bottom to agree with the contour of the. rear ends of the recesses 22.

.Each of the block sections II, I2 and ,I3 has its bottom face concaved with the outer edges of all the block sections being in a common plane, see Figs. 2 and 3. This concaved bottom face causes any water which passes through the top of the cap III during the washing operation to be collected in the low point of the concaved face.

.The central front block section I2 has its rear face I8 formed with a groove 25 extended from its top toits bottom. In the assembled position of the blocks this groove 25 forms a space between the adjacent faces of the blocks I2 and I3 through which the water collected within the concaved bottom face of the block sections is adapted to discharge.

The rear central block section I3 is formed 'with a recess 26 extended inwards from its top face and into which one is adapted to engage ones finger to get a grip on this block section permitting it to be pulled from the cap I0 after it has thoroughly dried after being washed to free the block sections II and I2 to also be taken out of the cap Ill.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

Then the cap It becomes dirty and it is necessary to wash the same, it is laid upon a flat surface with its open bottom directed upwards. The side blocks II are then engaged into the cap I0 followed by the blocks I2 and I3 as shown in Fig. .1. The cap with the block sections in position therein is turned over and the entire outer sur- .face of the cap is washed to remove the dirt.

Any water which passes through the cap III will collect within the inverted concaved bottom face of the block sections and pass outward through the groove 25. After the washing operation is completed the cap I0 with the block sections still in position therein is placed aside to dry.. The block sections will act to prevent the cap from shrinking while drying. After the cap isdried the locking central block section I3 is removed by inserting one finger in the recess 26 to grip this block section to facilitate its Withdrawal tofree the block sections II and I2 to also be taken out of the cap I0.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 15 to 19, means is provided for locking the rear central block section I3 in position with relation to one of the side block sections I I to prevent this rear block section I3 from dropping out of the cap and so retain the block sections securely in position within the cap III.

The means comprisesa small metallic container 36 having a ball 3! urged outwards by an expansion spring 32. The container 30 is mounted within an elongated opening 33 formed in one side wall of the rear central block section I3 with the ball 3I projecting beyond this side wall to engage a recess 34 formed in the adjacent side wall of the side block section I I. The inner portion of the'container 30 has an outwardly extending flange 35 disposed within the opening. serrations 36 are formed on the face of the flange. A strip 31 engages a portion of the flange 35 along one side of the opening 33 and has serrations 38 on its inner face. The serrations 36 and 38 are arranged to engage each other for locking the container 30 in a position in which the ball 3| will engage the recess 34 when all the block sections are engaged within the cap ID with all faces in the same plane flush. The strip 31 is releasably retained in position by means of screws 39 and in the loosened position of the screws 39 the container 30 will be free. Adjustment ofthe vertical-position of the container 30 enables the ball 3| to be located at a proper position to engage the recess 34.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as .defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A cap cleaning and stretching block, comprising a pair of side block sections for engaging into a cap and having their outer faces fashioned to the contour of the sides of said cap and having their inner faces sloping slightly inwards from the top to the bottom, a spreading forward central block section engaging betweenthe forward ends of said side block sections and having its front face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections for spreading the latter block sections and further having its rear face sloping rearwards from top to bottom, and a"lock'ing rear central block section engaging between the rearward ends of said side'block sections and having its rear face fashioned to i the contour of the adjacent end of said cap .and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the. inner faces of said side block section and further having its front face sloping rearwards from top to bottom and engaging the rear face 'of said forward central block section for spreading said central block sections and meansfor locking said rear central block section in position with relation to one of said side :block sections to prevent its accidental disengagement from said cap,

2. A cap cleaning and stretching block having a pair of side block sections with their outer faces fashioned to the contour of the sides of a cap and central block sections engageable between said side block sections and having their outer faces shaped to the contour of said cap, said side block sections having their inner faces sloping slightly inwards from the top to the bottom and said central block sections having their sides sloping slightly inwards from top to bottom to engage the sides of said side block sections and spread them against the sides of said cap, said side block sections being formed with central recesses having their ends sloping outwards from the top to the bottom, and projections formed on the sides of said central block sections and having their ends sloping outwards from the top to the bottom and engaging said recesses so that the sloping ends of said projections and recesses retain said central block sections from spreading beyond the ends of said side block sections.

3. A cap cleaning and stretching block, comprising a pair of side block sections for engaging into a cap and having their outer faces fashioned to the contour of the sides of said cap and having their inner faces sloping slightly inwards from the top to the bottom, a spreading forward central block section engaging between the forward ends of said side block sections and having its front face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections for spreading the latter block sections and further having its rear face.

sloping rearwards from top to bottom, and a locking rear central block section engaging between the rearward ends of said side block sections and having its rear face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections and further having its front face sloping rearwards from top to bottom and engaging the rear face of said forward central block section for spreading said central block sections and means for locking said rear central block section in position with relation to one of said side block sections to prevent its accidental disengagement from said cap, comprising a spring pressed ball mounted in the side of one of said sections and engageable with a complementary recess formed in the other block section.

4. A cap cleaning and stretching block, comprising a pair of side block sections for engaging into a cap and having their outer faces fashioned to the contour of the sides of said cap and having their inner faces sloping slightly inwards from the top to the bottom, a spreading forward central block section engaging between the forward ends of said side block sections and having its front face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections for spreading the latter block sections and further having its rear face sloping rearwards from top to bottom, and a locking rear central block section engaging between the rearward ends of said side block sections and having its rear face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections and further having its front face sloping rearwards from top to bottom and engaging the rear face of said forward central block section for spreading said central block sections and means for locking said rear central block section in position with relation to one of said side block sections to prevent its accidental disengagement from said cap comprising a spring pressed ball mounted in the side of one of said sections and engageable with a complementary recess formed in the other block section, a container housing said spring pressed ball and being slidably disposed within a vertical recess formed in the block carrying said ball, and means for holding said container in various adjusted positions in said recess.

5. A cap cleaning and stretching block, comprising a pair of side block sections for engaging into a cap and having their outer faces fashioned to the contour of the sides of said cap and having their inner faces sloping slightly inwards from the top to the bottom, a spreading forward central block section engaging between the forward ends of said side block sections and having its front face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections for spreading the latter block sections and further having its rear face sloping rearwards from top to bottom, and a locking rear central block section engaging between the rearward ends of said side block sections and having its rear face fashioned to the contour of the adjacent end of said cap and having its sides sloping inwards and engaging the inner faces of said side block sections and further having its front face sloping rearwards from top to bottom and engaging the rear face of said forward central block section for spreading said central block sections and means for locking said rear central block section in position with relation to one of said side block sections to prevent its accidental disengagement from said cap comprising a spring pressed ball mounted in the side of one of said sections and engageable with a complementary recess formed in the other block section, a container housing said spring pressed ball and being slidably disposed within a vertical recess formed in the block carrying said ball, and means for holding said container in various adjusted positions in said recess comprising a releasable serrated strip engageable with a serrated flange formed on said container.

FRITZ GREIFENHAIN. 

